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Alef, K.* ; Beck, T.* ; Zelles, L. ; Kleiner, D.*

A comparison of methods to estimate microbial biomass and N-mineralization in agricultural and grassland soils.

Soil Biol. Biochem. 20, 561-565 (1988)
DOI
Open Access Green as soon as Postprint is submitted to ZB.
The rate of ammonification of arginine-N, after addition to soil is proposed as a rapid index of soil microbial activity. Correlation between arginine ammonification, biomass C, heat output, soil ATP content and soil protease activity, were assessed on twenty-two agricultural and grassland soils collected from thirteen habitats in Germany and Austria. There were highly significant, positive correlations between all methods (r > 0.9). Close relationships were also found between these methods and total soil organic matter content (r = 0.862-0.957), but not with soil pH or the viable microbial count. Our results show a close relationship between the microbial biomass and N-mineralization in soils, and suggest arginine ammonification as a valid indicator of microbial activity in soil.
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Publication type Article: Journal article
Document type Scientific Article
Corresponding Author
ISSN (print) / ISBN 0038-0717
e-ISSN 1879-3428
Quellenangaben Volume: 20, Issue: 4, Pages: 561-565 Article Number: , Supplement: ,
Publisher Elsevier
Publishing Place Amsterdam
Non-patent literature Publications
Reviewing status Peer reviewed
Institute(s) Institute of Ecological Chemistry (IOEC)